The first of a fleet of eight new state-of-the-art garbage trucks will soon hit the streets of Lismore thanks to a $5 million investment by the Minns Labor Government.
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, today joined Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg and council workers to unveil the first truck of the new fleet.
Last year the NSW Government provided Lismore City Council with a one-off $5 million grant to purchase eight new garbage trucks. This funding has enabled the Council to secure and improve its waste collection services which were severely impacted by the 2022 floods.
It has also ensured Lismore City Council maintained the jobs of garbage collectors and other waste workers in-house, supporting local jobs rather than outsourcing to external contractors.
The $5 million grant is part of hundreds of millions of dollars in support provided by the NSW Government to help the region's ongoing recovery. This includes almost $23.4 million from the Office of Local Government to the Council to assist with disaster recovery.
Lismore City Council delivers 15,500 residential and commercial waste services and collects approximately 45,000 bins across the LGA every fortnight. The remaining trucks will progressively come into service over the coming months.
The new trucks are fitted with more advanced technology that will help improve safety and maintenance, with features to track bin collections to provide a more efficient and cost-effective service.
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:
"I am delighted to be in Lismore today to see the first of these new and improved garbage trucks enter service.
"It may not be glamorous, but waste collection is one of the most important jobs of a council. It takes on even more importance in the wake of the devastation felt by this community.
"Having these trucks means the people of Lismore can now rely on efficient waste collection for years to come and that the hardworking staff who make it possible have secure jobs into the future.
"This outcome is a credit to the advocacy of the United Services Union who worked with Lismore Council on a proposal that was best for the Council, workers and the local community."
Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:
"Seeing the first of these new garbage trucks here, ready to hit the road, is wonderful because having this $5-million fleet will greatly aid the ongoing recovery of Lismore.
"I thank Minister Hoenig for listening to our concerns around rebuilding our waste collection services post-flood, and importantly, ensuring that these outdoor jobs stay local.
"It's a really practical way in which the Minns Labor Government is supporting Lismore City Council in its efforts to renew our civic infrastructure."
Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said:
"The delivery of the new modern fleet is a game changer for Council and community. Previously, there was hardly a day when at least one of our waste trucks were off the road being repaired, meaning missed pickups.
"As a Council, we are responsible for ensuring that we are financially sustainable, and our ageing existing fleet meant that waste services were not sustainable into the future.
"I would like to thank the Minister Ron Hoenig, our local representative Janelle Saffin and the United Services Union's Graeme Kelly and Stephen Hughes for working with Council to find a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
"I would also like to thank Council's mechanics who have somehow managed to keep the outgoing fleet on the road for as long as they have, and also our waste drivers, who will now enjoy the advanced technology and improved safety of our new fleet."
